Sustainable Development: a History of Two Words and Few Facts

In Spanish atparticipating countries agree with the existence of
In 1987, the United Nations Environment Programme,the current problem of models of development; but
led by the former Norwegian Prime Minister Grono one coincides in the forms of implementing
Harlem Brundtland, worked examining the position ofsolutions. This is because such solutions require
the contemporary world and demonstrated withadjusting the economic growth to the welfare of the
scientific data that the global society was destroyingplanet like an ecosystem, something that the
the environment and affecting wide segments of theWestern modern society has never contemplated.
worldwide population by submitting them to poverty.Since the surging of the term Sustainable
This analysis was published in a book named “OurDevelopment in 1987, its significance has focused on
Common Future”, based on the Brundtlandthe environmental sustainability, generating a domino
Report conclusions. In this report, the termeffect of Global Summits and Meetings guided
sustainable (or sustainable development) was usedtowards reaffirming the need to confront the same
for the first time, defined as satisfying the needs ofproblem: The satisfaction of human needs is not
the present without compromising the generations .sustainable in time in the way that future generations
The purpose of the Brundtland Report was to findwill not count with the same resources that we
practical tools for reverting the development andcurrently have.
environmental problems. In order to achieve this, theWith the meetings held ever since, we can highlight
commission destined three years to public hearingsthe 1998 Nobel Awards from 63 countries that
and received over 500 written comments, later onelaborated a Manifesto reaffirming the climatic crisis
examined by scientists and politicians from 21of the planet in 1997, before the signature of the
countries and different ideologies . As the bookKyoto Protocol in Japan. In the same year the Rome
indicates. the work of so many people with differentAgreement was celebrated, focusing on the correct
histories and cultures made necessary theuse of fertile lands.
strengthening of dialogue, which is why the result ofAt a later time, in 1998 Expo Lisbon focused on the
this synergy is more than any of them would haveprotection of the oceans. In 2000 the Climate
gotten individually.Summit was held in La Haye, Netherlands, concluding
However, the concept that encloses the termonce again that the goals had not been reached. In
Sustainable Development had been being gestated2002, in Johannesburg, South Africa, another Earth
before the 1987 meeting. In fact, in June of 1972 theSummit with similar conclusions was held. ( cast.htm )
Declaration of The United Nations Conference atAlthough it seems incredible, the fundamental axis of
Stockholm was held, where the Human Environmentall the debates has concentrated on agreeing on the
and two fundamental aspects that compose it: theway how contaminant emissions should be measured
artificial and the native, we actively discussed. It isto determine if the established goals for its decrease
pertinent to highlight those conclusions that indicatehave come true. Granted, though, not always those
the concern of the contamination index and thewho offer the bigger force to this debate are the
inequality in the necessary conditions forcountries that most contaminate the planet.
development. It is clear that even though the termAn example of this is that, recently, a documentary
Sustainable Development was not used until 1987,was released, titled An inconvenient Truth, sponsored
some worldwide events revealed the need to checkby Al Gore, who has played an important role in the
the definition of development and construct apolitical positioning of this subject in the United States.
comprising, interdependent and equitable perspective.The documentary shows the backward movement
The theme has been spread and debated in multipleof numerous glaciers by means of photos taken for
scenes. After ten years of the United Nationsseveral years, as well as a study carried out by
Conference of 1972, in May of 1982, at Nairobiresearchers of the University of Berna Physic
(Africa), another conference was held, whose centralInstitute and the EPIC that shows data of the
axis was the environment. Once again, the themesAntarctican nucleus of the ice with concentrations of
and topics that needed to be included in a new termcarbon dioxide—nowadays higher than during the
were discussed: Sustainable Development.past 650,000 years.
The impact attained by the Brundtland Report atLikewise, the documentary reveals an investigation
including this new term can be corroborated in theheld by Dr. Naomi Oreskes (2004), which consists on
following United Nations Conference called the Eartha revision of 928 scientific articles related to the
Summit, held in Rio de Janeiro, 1992. While in previousglobal climate change, published between 1993 and
conferences the general theme was based on2003. The investigation, published in the magazine
reflections and concerns, at the Earth SummitScience, proved that each article either blamed global
guidelines and goals were designed in order towarming on men's actions or did not comment about
protect our planet.it at all.
This is how, for the first time in humanity’sThe scientific bases that document that our planet is
history, 180 countries represented at the Earthon a critical and unprecedented phase are ample and
Summit joined on behalf of the Climatic Changesrevealing; today more than ever the awakening of an
Treaty, to take measures that mitigate the effectsenvironmental conscience is necessary, based on a
that this produces, due to the increasing emissions ofSustainable Development perspective, to reach a
greenhouse gases. At present, there are 181balanced coexistence with the ecosystems that
governments part of this treaty, who meet annuallysupports our life like species.
to analyze the advances and to continue looking forThe improvement of the environment is a
problems’ solutions.commitment of companies as well as citizens. In
At a later time, in 1997, all the countries compromisedorder to initiate this stage, big sacrifices, or difficult
with climatic changes met in Kyoto, Japan, andand innovative methods, are not necessary; the
established bases for the commitment of reducingsolution is simpler than we thought: it is in your hands.
emissions by 7% in the following decade, aFrom your home, begin with these 10 things to do
commitment attained by the countries that met inrecommended by An inconvenient truth. (
Rio five years earlier. In 1998, the industrialized1. – Change a Light
countries increased their emissions up to 10%; forReplacing one regular light bulb with a compact
example, the USA surpassed the limits over 20%.fluorescent light bulb will save 150 pounds of carbon
In the same year of the Kyoto meeting, the seconddioxide a year.
Earth Summit was held at the seat of the United2. - Drive less
Nations in New York. But when doing the balanceWalk, ride a bike, carpool or use mass transit more
between the established at the first Summit of Riooften. You will save one pound of carbon dioxide for
Janeiro and the achieved within the same, the resultevery mile you do not drive!
was discouraging. Although the agreements were3. - Recycle more
reaffirmed, the drawn goals to stop the damage ofYou can save 2.400 pounds of carbon dioxide per
the planet did not come true. In fact, the economicyear by recycling just half of your household waste.
globalization had destroyed the advances obtained by4. - Checks your tires
Río's agenda, has established an exploitativeKeeping your tires properly inflated can improve gas
worldwide economy and has exposed the naturalmileage by more than 3%. Every gallon of gasoline
resources to the voracity of the market. These aresaved keeps 20 pounds of carbon dioxide out of the
some current signs of warning :atmosphere!
• A lot of places in North America registered their5. – Use less hot water
warmer seasons or days at the end of the decadeIt takes a lot of energy to heat water. Use less hot
of 1990.water by installing a low flow showerhead (350
• Since 1980, Earth has registered 19 of itspounds of CO2 saved per year) and washing your
hottest years, 1998 being the warmest, with 2002clothes in cold or warm water (500 pounds saved per
and 2003 as second and third, respectively.year)
• In 2003, the extreme heat waves caused over6. – Avoid products with a lot of packaging
20.000 deaths in Europe and over 1.500 deaths inYou can save 1.200 pounds of carbon dioxide if you
India.cut down your garbage by 10%.
• Mosquitoes, which carry diseases, are7. – Adjust your thermostat
propagating as the climate changes allow them toMoving your thermostat just 2 degrees in winter and
survive in areas that used to be inhospitable forup 2 degrees in summer. You could save about 2.000
them. Mosquitoes that can carry the dengue viruspounds of carbon dioxide a year with this simple
were restricted to heights of 1.000 meters, but theyadjustment.
have recently appeared to 2.200 meters in the8. - Plant a tree
Andean Mountains of Colombia. Malaria, in higher areasA single tree will absorb one ton of carbon dioxide
of Indonesia, has also been detected.over its lifetime.
• According to NASA, the polar icecap is melting9. – Turn off electronic devices
at an alarming rhythm of 9% per decade. From theSimply turning off your television, DVD player, stereo,
decade of 1960, the thickness of the arctic ice hasand computer when you are not using them will save
decreased 40%.you thousands of pounds of carbon dioxide a year.
• The current rhythm of sea elevation is three10. - Become part of the solution
times higher than the historic rhythm and it seems toSpread the world! Encourage your friends to see An
be accelerating.Inconvenient Truth and send them the following PDF
• A recent study published in the prestigiousdocument:
publication Nature discovered that at least 279REFERENCES
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the tackling form of the problem. That is, all